Coronavirus may weigh on African economies for three years

A money changer counts Nigerian currency notes for a customer in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos, Nigeria March 16, 2020. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

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It may take three years for African economies to recover from the slowdown brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the continent’s finance ministers.

Development partners should consider debt relief over a two to three-year period for all African nations, the ministers said in a statement following a meeting with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

They also want a special purpose vehicle created to deal with all sovereign debt obligations, according to the statement.

Last month, the ministers agreed that the continent needs a stimulus package of $100 billion to face the economic crisis wrought by the virus. The package amount includes $44 billion in debt-servicing waivers.

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African economy

Coronavirus

Development